Despite an up-and-down season with Illinois, six-foot-eight wing Will Riley has declared for the NBA draft. As a player, Riley excels as a scoring wing who can knock down shots on all three levels. Furthermore, Riley has great positional size and solid athleticism that allows him to be a versatile splayer on both ends of the floor. However, Riley is still on the raw end of prospects and needs to develop in several significant areas of his game. Nevertheless, his size, athleticism, and scoring potential make him an attractive draft prospect. Let’s dive into the best fits for Will Riley among teams in the 2025 NBA Draft.
Best Fits For Will Riley In The 2025 NBA Draft
Brooklyn Nets
The fit between the Brooklyn Nets and Riley is perfect given the needs of each party. Specifically, the Nets need more talent and upside on the roster. The Nets don’t have much in terms of upside among their young players. That’s where Riley can help out the Nets. His skill set as a scorer alongside his physical tools gives him the upside to be a versatile wing in the future. Not only can Riley be a three-level scorer, but he also has flashed playmaking skills and the ability to handle the ball. In combination with his physical tools, Riley is exactly the type of wing that any team would want.
Riley himself would absolutely benefit from going to a team where he would have little expectation to produce. Riley must improve in several areas to improve his overall game and reach his potential. In particular, Riley clearly needs to add strength to his frame, improve his efficiency, and become better on the defensive end. Going to the rebuilding Nets will give Riley plenty of opportunities to experiment and improve his overall game. Due to their status as a rebuilding team, Riley’s development will be prioritized over winning. If everything goes right, Brooklyn will get a wing that can be an impactful player for the future.
San Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs, while wanting to make a playoff push next year, would make a good fit for Riley. The Spurs need another wing who can be a long-term piece for the team. Furthermore, Riley’s scoring ability would fit well next to Victor Wembanyama and De’Aaron Fox, giving them another shooting option on the perimeter. Riley’s physical tools can be honed by the Spurs to make Riley into a better defensive wing.
For Riley, he will get several benefits from going to San Antonio. The Spurs have a history of developing many solid players over the years. Riley will get the benefit of working with San Antonio’s developmental coaches. While he won’t be a rotation player in his rookie season, playing next to San Antonio’s stars will get him many open scoring opportunities. Overall, Riley can develop into a great player for the Spurs in the future.
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls is another team that Riley fits well on, despite their constant pursuit of the postseason. The team can use more young players with high upside on the team and someone who actually has the potential to be a real threat from three. Furthermore, a scoring wing like Riley fits well next to Matas Buzelis and the defense he brings. In the Bulls, Riley will get development and playing time to improve his skills, regardless of Chicago’s insistence on making the postseason every year. Similar to Brooklyn, Riley in Chicago will have the time to develop further as a player.
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